Tips for a Stress-Free Tax Season

If every April 15th, you find yourself standing in a long line at the post office with a racing pulse and a sense of dread, it might be time to change your approach to tax season.

Procrastination, disorganization, and confusion are among the main culprits that cause so much woe in April. Having an unhealthy relationship with your money can bring stress to a boiling point when the 15th looms. But while taxes are one of life’s two certainties, there’s no rule that says they must cause tension and anxiety. Here are some steps you can take to make the process less stressful.

Take small steps. Lots of them.

Don’t say you’ll climb your financial mountain in one afternoon. Set aside one-hour units of time to begin organizing yourself. Spend one session just pulling out all the documents you’ll need; spend another sorting them into categories (income, deductibles, etc.).

Make it fun.

Taxes are dull. If you spend an hour organizing receipts, reward yourself with your favorite food, a bubble bath, or a new nail polish color, says Eryka Peskin, an upstate New York-based life coach who deals with money matters. For bigger milestones, give yourself bigger rewards, like a day at a spa.

When gathering your paperwork, use beautiful paper or funky paperclips, Peskin suggests. Make the task as welcoming as possible by setting up your work area in a spot with good lighting and a view, if possible.

Shed daylight on your finances.

Keep track of how much you earn and how much you spend everyday. Technology makes it easier than ever. Sites like Mint.com can consolidate your accounts and categorize your spending. There are also several mobile apps that can help you organize receipts by scanning them so you don’t get overwhelmed by piles of paperwork.

Don’t say you’ll climb your financial mountain in one afternoon. Set aside one-hour units of time to begin organizing yourself.

Plan ahead.

Compare how much you have been withholding in taxes midyear, suggests Valerie Adelman, a Certified Financial Planner in New York. You don’t want to discover in December that you’re in the 25% tax bracket but have been withholding only 10% of income. If you’re planning a big life change—marriage, divorce, birth, or an adoption—find out how that will affect your tax liabilities.

Ask for extra help.

If April is approaching and you feel your stress levels rising, ask your advisor to put your returns at the top of his list. Not that many people ask, says Joseph Goetz, Associate Professor of Financial Planning at the University of Georgia in Atlanta, and President of the Financial Therapy Association.

Let some things slide.

Like it or not, your taxes have to get done (or you at least need to file an extension). Accept that this is your priority and give yourself a break on all your other regular tasks. Allow the kids to order pizza on April 14th. Let yourself off the hook for skipping the gym. Take advantage of the Citi Simplicity® Card; with no late fees or penalty rate if you miss a payment due date, you can put that bill out of your mind until after you’ve sent your return to Uncle Sam.